For Mothers Day – Sometimes there isn’t even a phone call

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”

 Matthew 23:37 (ESV)

I present this text for Mothers Day this Sunday.  In the mouth of Jesus, I find it to be one of the most heart-rending expressions in the Bible, as well as perhaps the most maternal image God uses for Himself.

In this season full of wonderfully beautiful, tender and heartfelt expressions of love between mother and child, I chose this very deliberately.

Here’s why.  ======

A response to the “Unanswerable” Question from MoveOn.org

This is my first, and probably last political post. I do have opinions, probably not hard to predict, but I believe I have very little to add to the discussion. I would not now, except that a  friend of mine posted the following link on Facebook, but in a form where Facebook does not provide for a comment.

The link proposes the “unanswerable” question of why, if “trickle-down” economics works, do the top 1% need even more wealth before they create jobs.

So as much as it pains me to post something from MoveOn.org, here it is again.

http://front.moveon.org/the-one-question-that-will-stump-all-your-republican-friends/#.T5P-xlM35-4.facebook

“Guaranteed to stump all your conservative friends!” claims MoveOn.org. 

On the upper room, peace, and scars

Very interesting message this past week from the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle, Bishop of Texas (Episcopal). Now, having participated (on the losing side) in some minor ways in the recent wars of the Episcopal Church, I am not automatically receptive to most bishops, including my own. But here I think Bp Doyle got it exactly right:

He was preaching from John 20:19-26, The post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to the disciples in the upper room.

Postscript: it’s OK

Well, I am smarting a bit, but I have discovered another of the benefits of really embracing a doctrine of depravity – the idea contained in one of the earlier prayer books of my tradition that “…there is no health in (me).”   I have re-discovered the comfort in this idea. There are of course many benefits to owning this –certainly the fact that Jesus came to save and heal such is at the heart of all. But specifically today I have in view the fact that it makes me darn hard to insult.

Meditation on Good Friday

Because today is Good Friday, I’ve decided to change the date and bring this post forward. It was originally written in 2007.

I had been pondering a part of the creed little used in the branch of the Church I grew up in: “He descended into hell” particularly in connection with Jesus’ words from the cross “it is finished” and “Into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

“…to love what you command and desire what you promise…”

“Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”

Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979

For those not familiar with the use of collects, I’ll get back to that in a moment, but for now, let me just say that this prayer, little altered from its earliest known form in the late fifth century is one of my favorites.

Here’s why.=========================

“And the Word became flesh…” “The Gospel According to John” Chapter 1 (cont.)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.